If you have checked your rights and are sure you are entitled to receive a payment from your airline following a problem with a flight, it’s important to make your case effectively.

The airline will use the information you provide to help judge if your case is valid. It helps to provide as much detail as possible.

If anything goes wrong with your claim, it’s useful to have a record of your communications. Keep a copy of everything you send.

Use your airline’s preferred method

Many airlines have a standard procedure for dealing with claims. If so, use it. You might have to send a letter to a particular address or fill in a standard claim form. Check the airline’s website for instructions, or call them to find out what to do.

If no standard procedure is available, it may be quickest to make initial contact by email. You can also send a letter.

Set out your case well

When you first contact your airline, aim to set out your case clearly and concisely. Explain what happened and when, and why you feel you are entitled to receive a payment.

We believe that passengers are able to demonstrate that they were on a delayed or cancelled flight in a number of ways. If you no longer have the tickets, It may be that you have bank or credit card statements to support your claim.

It could also be that you have other evidence that helps support your claim like:

emails from the airline

luggage tags

receipts from the airport

phone records

or passport stamps.

The airline should then use the information provided by you to check against their own records. If you have no evidence at all to demonstrate that you were on a flight, and the airline refuses to handle your complaint on that basis, you are able to make a subject access request (a request for personal information held about you by a business) under the Data Protection Act 1998. Airlines are able to charge up to £10 for providing information in response to a subject access request. You should provide the airline with some information so that they can find your records. This should be at a minimum the date of your flight, the departure and arrival airports and the passenger name/s.